Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur d'Alger

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Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur d'Alger (Sacred Heart Cathedral of Algiers) is a Roman Catholic church located in Algiers, Algeria. Completed in 1956, it became the new cathedral in the capital after the Cathedral of Saint Philip of Algiers reconverted into a Muslim Ketchaoua Mosque.[1] The Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur d'Alger is the cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Algiers.

Construction of the church began after a wish of Bishop Leynaud in 1944. It was elevated to a cathedral in December 1962 and consecrated in 1963. The designers of the building, Paul Herbé and Jean Le Couteur,[2] along with engineer René Sarger,[3] were inspired by the Gospel of John. Its nave measures 52 metres (171 feet) long and 35 metres (115 feet) wide. The church is noted for its central tower.[3]

At the entrance to the nave there are small organs offered by the parish of Boufarik opposite which is a mosaic. The mural dates to 324, from the first Roman basilica of Castellum Tingitanum (Chlef).[4] The altar is made of Carrara marble, and houses the relics of numerous African saints.

References

  1. 1.Borrmans, Maurice (1982). Tendances et courants de l'islam arabe contemporain: Egypte et Afrique du Nord (in French). Mainz. p. 251. ISBN 978-3-459-01471-2. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  2. 2.Stahly, François (1963). François Stahly. J. Bucher. p. 42. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  3. 3.[3.2]Cement and Concrete Association (1964). Concrete quarterly. Cement and Concrete Association. p. 21. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  4. 4.Labourdette, Jean-Paul; Martin, Marie-Hélène (9 July 2008). Le Petit Futé Algérie. Petit Futé. p. 237. ISBN 978-2-7469-2196-2. Retrieved 20 May 2012.